Chapter 35: The Final Badge
"Ryan, what are you talking about? Did you win?" Lillie asked, somewhat puzzled.
"Blaine, this Infernape isn't your main team member, is it? Why did you send it out?" Ryan frowned.
"No. This Infernape is my ace," Blaine said, recalling the Infernape. "It's just that I'm getting old, and so is Infernape. It's starting to decline in every aspect. I want to thank you, Ryan. Giving Infernape a final farewell battle, losing to a young, energetic and powerful Pokémon like Charizard—it must be relieved."
Blaine walked over and handed the Volcano Badge to Ryan. When Ryan heard what Blaine said, the anger in his heart dissipated, and he said helplessly: "You should have told me earlier. I could have given you another battle."
"It's different. Ordinary battles and gym battles are different," Blaine said. "The gym battle was its last desire. After all, watching a young trainer keep moving forward—it feels different."
Ryan took the badge and said, "I accept the badge. I'll come back when I have time. When I do, I'll bring my strongest team, surpass you veteran trainers, and claim the title of Pokémon Master."
"Ha ha. That's exactly what I want to hear!" Blaine laughed, looking at Ryan with satisfaction. "It's agreed then—I'll use my six strongest at that time."
Ryan nodded, shook hands with Blaine, and then walked out of the Cinnabar Gym. Blaine watched Ryan and Lillie disappear, a flood of emotion filling his mind. Then, Ryan's voice reached him faintly: "Gym Leader Blaine, Lance is leaving for Johto. Agatha is getting old and will retire soon. The League will definitely come looking for you."
"Elite Four member," Blaine smiled faintly. "Sometimes you still have to fight. My old friend has retired, and he doesn't want to see me go down the same path."
Ryan and Lillie didn't stay on Cinnabar Island. They boarded the last ferry and left Cinnabar Island in the night.
The ferry sailed for several days before finally reaching the port of Cerulean City. During this time, Ryan captured over thirty high-quality Water Pokémon, and his Dratini, having gained enough experience, evolved into Dragonair. Most importantly, Ryan finally discovered his Amulet Coin was working perfectly! The prize money he earned after gym battles had doubled significantly. Ryan suddenly felt like he had no shortage of funds. Capturing Pokémon required Poké Balls, and the prize money he'd earned from previous battles wasn't even enough to buy quality equipment. Now, with his earnings doubled, he had more than enough to buy Great Balls and Ultra Balls, and even more. Ryan was overjoyed.
He had a plan for the future: open a safari zone and call it a breeding facility. Anyone who paid an entry fee could attempt to capture any Pokémon they liked within designated areas, and he'd also charge for specialized Poké Balls. That way, he'd have plenty of funding for his journey! His trainer career was about to reach new heights!
After arriving in Cerulean City, they greeted the Waterflowers sisters and headed straight for Viridian City. Finally, three days later, Ryan and Lillie arrived.
Mewtwo was already trembling uncontrollably in its Poké Ball. Ryan soothed the Poké Ball, supporting Mewtwo's determination. Through intense training and frequent battles, with the exception of Dragonair, who was still developing, his team had all reached impressive levels. Mewtwo, leading at the peak of its power, was fully prepared for this confrontation against Giovanni's Mewtwo.
Arriving at the Viridian Gym, Ryan looked at the two guards and said, "I'm Ryan from Pallet Town, and I'm here for a gym challenge."
The two guards slammed their spear handles against the ground, and the gates swung open. They led Ryan and Lillie inside. They reached one side of the arena, facing a high platform. The lights came on, and Giovanni sat in his chair, looking imposing, with a magnificently groomed Persian beside him. Seeing Ryan, Giovanni smiled and said, "I'm Giovanni, Gym Leader of Viridian City. I accept your challenge. I know about you. The League officials and we gym leaders have all mentioned you. I wonder what special qualities you possess that make you so noteworthy to the League?"
"Battle me and you'll find out," Ryan said with a smile. "Go, Beedrill!"
Ryan sent out his shiny Beedrill and looked at Giovanni on the platform. Giovanni smiled and said, "Beedrill, huh? How nostalgic, and it's shiny too. Go, Rhyhorn!"
Giovanni sent out Rhyhorn. Ryan looked at it and frowned slightly. It appeared to be significantly weaker than expected—was Giovanni holding back? One of the referees then spoke: "This will be a three-on-three Pokémon battle with no time limit. Let the match begin!"
"Rhyhorn, Take Down!" Giovanni commanded.
"Beedrill, Fell Stinger!" Ryan called out.
Rhyhorn charged forward and crashed into Beedrill, but the agile Bug-type twisted and struck with its stinger at a weak point in Rhyhorn's rocky hide, delivering a critical hit that knocked it out instantly.
"Oh. Quite impressive," Giovanni said, recalling Rhyhorn. "Let's continue."
He then sent out a Nidoking, also appearing to be at a moderate level. Ryan was completely baffled and said, "Beedrill, use Fell Stinger again."
Beedrill darted forward and struck Nidoking with another precise stinger attack, knocking it out as well.
Looking at Giovanni, who had recalled the Nidoking, Ryan said, "Can you be serious, Gym Leader Giovanni? Or do you just want to forfeit?"
Giovanni stood up, stepped forward, and said, "Forfeit? That's impossible. I possess overwhelming power. I'll show you right now."
He then snapped his fingers. A door beneath the platform slowly opened, revealing a humanoid Pokémon clad in mechanical armor. A flash of blue light emanated from the armor's eye visor, and Beedrill was bound by powerful psychic energy, unable to move.
"Hmm. Your Beedrill is very strong," Giovanni observed that Beedrill was only restrained and not knocked away by the psychic attack, and said with some admiration. "But the elementary gym battle is over, young man. Even if all your Pokémon were on the field, they would be no match for it."
"Oh. Really?" Ryan recalled Beedrill and said, "I won't use them all, as that would violate the gym battle rules, and I would be disqualified. The battle continues, still one-on-one. Come out, Mewtwo!"
"What?!" Giovanni screamed.
A Mewtwo, slightly smaller than the armored Mewtwo across from it, appeared on the field. The armored Mewtwo, previously motionless, suddenly changed its posture. It flashed in front of Ryan's Mewtwo and began communicating telepathically.
"How do you have a Mewtwo?" Giovanni asked in disbelief.
"Why can't I have a Mewtwo? Mewtwo is a Pokémon after all, isn't it? It's a living being, not just an experiment. Why can't I have caught one?" Ryan said with a smile. At the same time, he discretely activated his Pokégear and connected to the League emergency frequency he had obtained from Professor Oak.
"Kid, who are you really?" Giovanni asked, trying to calm his inner turmoil.
"Ryan from Pallet Town—didn't we establish this already?" Ryan said calmly. "Speaking of which, Gym Leader Giovanni, you just asked how I have a Mewtwo, which means the one wearing the armor is another Mewtwo. Where did your Mewtwo come from?"
"That's none of your business," Giovanni said coolly. "Still want to battle, kid?"
"I do, but it seems your Mewtwo doesn't want to fight," Ryan smiled.
He could see his Mewtwo helping the armored Mewtwo remove its restraints. Giovanni's face changed drastically, and he shouted, "Stop!"
Ryan's Mewtwo successfully removed a piece of the armor with its psychic power. Then, a psychic storm much more powerful than Ryan's Mewtwo surged out, shattering the remaining armor on the captive Mewtwo into pieces.
(End of Chapter)
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